VPK UK & Ireland

29/09/2026

The 3PL market is being asked to absorb more complexity, not less.

Ecommerce remains a major part of UK retail, accounting for 27.8% of total retail sales in Great Britain in Q2 2026. Ofcom also reported that people in the UK sent and received a record 4.2 billion parcels last year, while Whistl has highlighted that 71% of UK online shoppers return items at varying frequencies.

That means more mixed orders. More parcel formats. More returns. More pressure on warehouse space, labour, transport and customer service.

Packaging can either help manage that complexity or add to it.

Oversized packs, too many formats, poor pallet fit, unnecessary void fill and under-specified protection all create hidden costs across a 3PL operation.

For logistics businesses, packaging optimisation is not a nice-to-have. It is a practical lever for improving cube utilisation, reducing avoidable handling, protecting products and controlling cost-to-serve.

Packaging optimisation can improve logistics performance, get in touch for how we can help you: https://vpkgroup.pulse.ly/vvagjddvly

22/09/2026

Packaging problems rarely sit in one place.

A pack might protect the product but slow the line. It might look good on shelf but waste space in transit. It might reduce material but create problems in handling, storage or fulfilment.

That is why packaging needs a structured process.

Our Eight-Step Solution Cycle is designed to help customers look at the full journey, from understanding the challenge and creating the right solution, through to validation, production, supply, support and continuous improvement.

It is about collaboration, insight and packaging that performs in the real world.

Watch the video below, and learn more here: https://vpkgroup.pulse.ly/vwpdhrgth9

18/09/2026

Over the past six weeks, 104 VPK colleagues from our Desborough site and Head Office took on the Big Team Challenge, setting out to walk the distance between all 32 of our corrugated sites across the UK and Europe.

Across 21 teams, we clocked up an incredible 53,244,274 steps - 121% of our target. That’s the equivalent of 23,664 miles, with an average of 11,907 steps per person, per day!

Along the way, we virtually travelled through 32 VPK sites, including locations across the UK and Ireland, Norway, Romania, Italy and our Head Office in Belgium.

It’s been a great way to get moving, bring a little friendly competition to the challenge and connect colleagues across our sites. We’ve also been raising money for Northamptonshire Mind along the way.

A huge well done to everyone who took part and helped us smash our target! 👏

17/09/2026

Ecommerce packaging cannot simply be retail packaging with a delivery label added.

A pack designed for shelf display does not automatically work through fulfilment centres, conveyors, sortation systems, vans, doorstep deliveries and returns, and that creates a different packaging brief.

For brands and manufacturers, ecommerce packaging needs to protect the product, support efficient packing, reduce avoidable handling, fit the parcel journey and still deliver a positive customer experience when it arrives.

In our latest blog, we look at why ecommerce growth is exposing packaging formats that were never designed for the full parcel journey, and why brands need to design around the channel rather than adapt after the fact.

Read the blog here: https://vpkgroup.pulse.ly/yog0f3d3at

Ecommerce packaging has become a mainstream business issue, but many brands are still treating it as a modified version of retail packaging and that is a problem.

15/09/2026

Shelf-ready packaging can make a real difference in fast-moving retail environments.

For dairy brands, it can support faster replenishment, clearer presentation and easier handling in-store.

But it still needs to perform through production, transit and storage first.

That balance is where good packaging design matters.

Discover more about our Irish shelf-ready packaging solutions: https://vpkgroup.pulse.ly/nabescbclo

10/09/2026

A packaging concept only creates value when it can be produced properly and consistently.

That is where Step 5 of our Eight-Step Solution Cycle comes in.

The produce category is the point where innovation meets ex*****on. It is about turning packaging designs into physical products that meet the required quality, performance and efficiency standards at scale.

Because great packaging is not just about the idea. It's about developing it the right way, so it performs through production, transit, storage, shelf display and the wider supply chain.

Watch the video and learn more about Step 5 here: https://vpkgroup.pulse.ly/nf0jrdzmhu

07/09/2026

In dairy, the journey from factory to shelf can be complex.

Packaging needs to support protection, handling, storage, replenishment and presentation, without adding unnecessary complexity for production, logistics or retail teams.

For dairy brands, the right secondary packaging can help create smoother operations and stronger shelf impact, whether the priority is product protection, retail-ready display, efficient handling or consistent presentation.

That matters in a sector where quality, speed and reliability are critical.

Discover more about our Stackable packaging solutions: https://vpkgroup.pulse.ly/sevitj6kzu

03/09/2026

Ecommerce packaging is no longer just a fulfilment detail.

According to ONS, online sales accounted for 27.9% of total retail sales in Great Britain in Q1 2026. That means more than one in four retail purchases is still being made online.

ONS also reported that online spending values were 9.8% higher in the three months to May 2026 than in the same period the previous year.

That puts packaging under pressure from both directions. It needs to protect products through parcel networks, use space efficiently, support faster packing, avoid unnecessary material and still arrive in a condition that reflects well on the brand.

A pack that is too large can increase transport inefficiency. A pack that is under-specified can increase damage risk. A format that is difficult to pack can slow fulfilment. And when returns enter the equation, packaging decisions can affect the cost and complexity of the journey back as well.

For ecommerce businesses, packaging is not just part of the order.

It is part of the operating model.

To discuss ecommerce packaging designed around your products, fulfilment process and customer experience, speak to the VPK Packaging team. https://vpkgroup.pulse.ly/hjyc4uqrsy

28/08/2026

How much air is moving through your supply chain?

Oversized packaging can create hidden costs across a 3PL operation. More warehouse space. More void fill. Poorer pallet and vehicle utilisation. Higher transport costs. Greater pressure during peak periods.

Right-sizing is not about making every pack as small as possible. It is about removing unnecessary space while maintaining the protection needed for storage, handling and delivery. Through our Solution Cycle, we help customers identify where packaging may be adding avoidable cost or complexity, develop alternative solutions and validate their performance before wider rollout.

The result can be better cube utilisation, reduced material use, improved warehouse efficiency and fewer damaged products.

The hidden cost of air is worth measuring.

Read the full article to explore how packaging optimisation can improve logistics performance: https://vpkgroup.pulse.ly/lymc6vcc1d

27/08/2026

Irish dairy is moving further than ever.

With exports reaching €7.3bn, up 14%, and Irish dairy products now shipped to around 140 markets worldwide, the demands on the supply chain continue to grow.

Packaging has to do more than protect what’s inside. It needs to support pallet stability, efficient handling, export logistics, retailer requirements and product presentation.

For Irish dairy businesses, secondary packaging is becoming a key part of supply chain performance.

Made in Ireland. Built for modern supply chains.

Discover more at: https://vpkgroup.pulse.ly/ijwzadp1by